Bill Text: IL HR0423 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Instructs the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to study the actual costs associated the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics Bureau of Air Operation's Springfield-Chicago and Chicago-Springfield shuttle service and additional flight services provided upon request of State employees and officials, and perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether such air transportation services are an efficient use of State revenue.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-06-03 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kay Hatcher [HR0423 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HR0423-Introduced.html

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HR0423 LRB096 12949 AJT 26936 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Division of Aeronautics Bureau of Air Operations operates a
Springfield-Chicago and Chicago-Springfield shuttle service
between Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield and
Midway Airport in Chicago and also provides additional flight
services upon request for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
members of the General Assembly, Judges of the Supreme Court,
Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer,
and others, as provided by IDOT; and
WHEREAS, According to a 2007 audit by the State of Illinois
Office of the Auditor General, the fleet of aircraft used by
IDOT for the shuttle service and additional flight services
consists of 4 Beechcraft King Air airplanes and 2 Sikorsky
helicopters; and
WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report found that IDOT
charged users of the State's aircraft $59.86 for a one-way
shuttle flight between Springfield and Chicago, and the amount
charged to users only covered approximately 14.3 percent of the
actual expense to the State; and
WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report found that the
approximate cost of operating the IDOT fleet was $20,000,000

HR0423 - 2 - LRB096 12949 AJT 26936 r
from 2003-2006; and
WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report estimated that
IDOT would need to charge approximately $270.10 for a one-way
flight between Springfield and Chicago to cover the actual cost
of operating the aircraft; and
WHEREAS, Flights between Springfield and Chicago are
currently offered by commercial airlines, such as United
Airlines; and
WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General Report found that IDOT
did not include all costs of operating the State's aircraft in
its cost reports, and IDOT has not fully analyzed the cost
effectiveness of its air operation or the optimal fleet size
needed; and
WHEREAS, A detailed breakdown of the actual costs of the
air transportation services provided by IDOT is not easily
obtainable; and
WHEREAS, Governor Quinn has estimated that the State of
Illinois is expected to face an $11 billion deficit for fiscal
years 2009 and 2010; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Government Forecasting and

HR0423 - 3 - LRB096 12949 AJT 26936 r
Accountability is charged with the duty to study and recommend
State fiscal and economic policies to improve the functioning
of State government and the economy of the various regions
within the State by Section 3 of the Commission on Government
Forecasting and Accountability Act; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
instruct the Commission on Government Forecasting and
Accountability to study the actual costs associated the
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of
Aeronautics Bureau of Air Operation's Springfield-Chicago and
Chicago-Springfield shuttle service between Abraham Lincoln
Capital Airport in Springfield and Midway Airport in Chicago
and additional flight services provided upon request of State
employees and officials, and perform a cost-benefit analysis to
determine whether such air transportation services is an
efficient use of State revenue; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting
and Accountability analyze the actual costs of the air
transportation services provided by IDOT by breaking down the
costs of personnel, fuel, maintenance, insurance, landing fees
charged by each airport, and other costs associated with the
transportation services; and be it further

HR0423 - 4 - LRB096 12949 AJT 26936 r
RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting
and Accountability analyze the actual costs of the air
transportation services provided by IDOT by breaking down the
costs attributable to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
legislative leaders of the General Assembly, members of the
General Assembly, Judges of the Supreme Court, Attorney
General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, and other
users; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting
and Accountability analyze whether it would be more cost
efficient for the State to sell the aircraft used by IDOT for
transportation of State employees and officials, except for one
State aircraft to be used for the essential travel of the
Governor, and requiring State employees and officials in need
of air transportation services to be reimbursed for travel on
commercial airlines, rather than IDOT providing the services;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting
and Accountability shall submit a report of its findings and
recommendations to the General Assembly on or before January 1,
2010.